Intro Speech free essay sample

Introductory Informative Unit 1 . Identify the major similarities and differences between public speaking and everyday conversation. Similarities I Differences I Logical organization of thoughts (Message organized by a speaker)- Tailoring your message to your audience (explain something differently to a child than you would to a grandparent, or a peer)- Telling stories/relaying information for maximum impact (Build up, adjustment to punch line)- Adapting to listener feedback (react to verbal, facial, and physical responses from listeners) I -? P.S is more structured (time imitations, one-sided, less conversational; requires planning preparation)-? P. S requires more formal language (elevated, polished, special language, no slang)-? P. S requires a different method of delivery (avoiding vocalizes pauses or clutter words: great control over mannerism; vocal adjustment) I 2. Discuss methods of controlling nervousness and making it work for, rather than against, the speaker 1. Acquire speaking experience (make It less of an unknown; Improve Vial trial and error) 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Intro Speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Prepare, prepare, prepare (Increases confidence, knowledge) 3. Think positively (convert negative thoughts to positive ones) 4. Visualize (create positive mental images) 5. Know that most nervousness is not visible 6. Dont expect perfection (its an act of communication, not a performance; minor errors often unnoticed) 3. Identify and discuss the basic elements of the speech communication process 1 . Speaker: the person presenting an oral message too listener. 2.Message: whatever a speaker communicates to someone else Includes intended as well as actual message; goal is for them to be the same 3. Channel: means by which message is communicated On-person, telephone; multiple channels for different audiences) 4. Listener: the person who receives the speakers . Importance of listener frame of reference tailor your message to the message likely frames of reference of your audience members 5. Feedback: messages, usually nonverbal, sent from listener to speaker (applause, slouching) 6.Interference: anything that impedes communication of a message c. Internal: individuals moods d. External: noise distraction 7. Situation: the time and place in which speech communication occurs context e. Messages and delivery must be adapted to situation I. 5 minutes left to finish 7 minutes speech. 4. Define Ethnocentrism, and explain why speakers need to avoid it -? Ethnocentrism: The belief that ones own group or culture Is superior to all other groups or culture. Unintentional, but nonetheless harmful) -? To avoid: adapt message to the cultural values and expectations of listeners. * Learn about audience Be alert to audience feedback Plato said all public speakers should be truthful and devoted to the good of society * Your ethical decisions will be guided by your values, your conscience, your sense of right and wrong. * Sound ethical decisions involve weighing a potential course of action against a set of ethical standards or guidelines * Make sure you prepare lull, so that you dont communicate erroneous information or misleading advice. . List and describe the five guidelines for ethical speechifying. * Make sure your goals are ethically sound * Worth goals * Ask ethical questions * Cannot escape assessing the ethical soundness of your goals * Be fully prepared for each speech * You have an obligation to yourself and your listeners * Being prepared for speech involves everything from analyzing your audience to creating visual aids, organizing your ideas, to rehearsing your delivery * Be fully informed on your subject. Get your facts rights. Be honest in what you say Most important part * Words can be trusted and people will be truthful * False statistics, quoting out of context, misrepresenting sources, portraying a few details as the whole story, and substituting half-truths for evidence and proof. Wrong * Ethically responsible speakers do not take credit of other peoples words * Avoid name- calling and other forms of abusive language * Name-calling: The use of personal language to defame, demeans, or degrade indivi duals or groups. This reinforces attitudes that encourage prejudice; hate crime, civil rights violation * Put ethical principles into practice Use ethics in your every day life 7. Identify and differentiate among Global plagiarism, patchwork plagiarism, and incremental plagiarisms * Global plagiarism * Stealing your speech entirely from another source and passing it off on your own. * Patchwork plagiarism * This is where a writer takes from two or three sources. * Incremental Plagiarism * Fails to give credit for particular parts or increments of the speech that are borrowed from other people. Most common with quotations and paraphrases * Common with quotations and paraphrases. 8. List and discuss the three basic guidelines for ethical listening * Be courteous ND Attentive * Give a speaker a same attention that you would like to receive * Sit up straight, no slouch, keep an eye contact, show supporting and encouraging attitude * Avoiding PREJUDGING the speaker * You don not have to agree with everything that the speaker is saying, but you should listen carefully to his/her ideas, assess the evidence and reasoning offered and reach an intelligent Judgment about the speech. Maintain the Free and Open expression of Ideas * Though disagree with the entire message, but show respect speakers right to * Hearing is a physiological process, involving the vibration of so und waves on our eardrums and the firing of electrochemical impulses from the inner ear to the central auditory system of brain. * Listening involves paying close attention to, and making sense of, what we hear 10. Explain why good listening is important to effective speech making * By having a good listening skills will allow you to hear accurate information, summarize the information well, recall the facts right, distinguish the main points from minor points easily. This will allow you to organize much easily, making it much easier for you make a speech. 11. Four major causes of poor listening * Not concentrating We can process a speakers words and still have plenty of spare brain time, we are tempted to interrupt our listening by thinking about other things. Listening too hard * Taking up too much information while hearing will end up obfuscates the facts. * Jumping to conclusion * Putting words into a speakers mouth. * We tend to think that were so sure with what they mean in that we dont listen to what they actually say. * Prematurely rejecting speakers ideas as boring or misguided. * Focus on delivery and personal appearance * We sometimes Judge people by their appearance and dont even pay close attention to what they say.Major sources of interference in speech communication process. 12. Six ways to become a better listener * Take listening seriously * Practice and self-discipline * Its a pure effort * Be an Active Listeners * Give undivided attention to the speaker * No distraction by internal or external interference * No procurement on speaker * Develop note taking skills * Resist Distractions * Make a conscious effort to pull your mind back to what the speaker is saying. Think ahead of the speaker * Review what the speaker has said and understand * Dont be diverted by appearance and delivery Suspend Judgment * Respect speakers opinion, no show of disagreement while speaker is speaking * Focus Your listening * Listen for main points * Listen of evidence * Listen for technique * What attention de vice? Credibility and good will? Clear to follow? Accurate, clear? * Develop note taking skills * Focus a speakers main points and evidence. 13. Explain why effective use of language is vital to speech composition and public * Allow listeners to grasp your meaning immediately. Helps bring your speech to life (imagery, concrete language, simile and metaphor) * Able to adapt to any types of situations and environment 14. Explain four methods one can use when having trouble choosing a speech topic. * Personal Inventory * Make a quick inventory of your experiences, interests, hobbies, skills, beliefs, and so forth * Fashion a specific topic * Clustering * Make columns of various categories. * Ex) people places, things, events, processes, concepts, natural phenomena and so forth * Internet Search * Browse through a subject-based website, online encyclopedia or any reference portal. Topics that you know a lot about/ Topic that interests you/ Brainstorm for topics 15. Differentiate among the general purpose, specific purpose and central idea f the speech. * General Purpose The broad goal of a speech; to inform/ to persuade (Two -word infinitive phrase) * Specific Purpose A single infinitive phrase that states precisely what speaker hopes to accomplish in his or her speech * Shows what the speaker wants the audience to grasp at the end of the speech. Central idea of the speech concise statement of what you expect to say * Thesis statement, major thought * Simple, declarative sentence that sharpens the specific purpose statement. 16. Formulate effective specific purpose statements and central ideas * Specific repose: to inform my audience about the effectiveness of Crossfire * Central ideas: Crossfire contains diverse, practical, and high intensity movement that includes weightlifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning. *17.Lucas five tips for formulating specific purpose statements and the five questions to ask about them * Specific Purpose: * Write the purpose statement as a full infinitive phrase, not as a fragment Not thoug ht out fully then no effective * Express your purpose as a statement, not as a question * Gives no clear direction of the speech * Avoid figurative language in your purpose statement Too ambiguous * Limit your purpose statement to one distinct idea * Focus on one * Make sure your specific purpose is not too vague or general * Five Questions about Specific Purpose * Does my purpose meet the assignment? Be sure that you understand the assignment and shape your specific purpose * Can I accomplish my purpose and the time allotted? To meet it * Better off with limited purpose * Is the purpose relevant to my audience? * Make sure that you are truly interested in the topic the topic to your audience * Is the purpose too trivial for my audience? * Find a way to relate *18.Discuss and apply the four guidelines for effective central ideas expressed in a full sentence * Should not be in the form of a question * Should avoid figurative language * Should not be vague or overly general *19. Discuss the four kinds of informative speeches * Speeches about objects * Speeches about processes * Speeches about events * Speeches about concept *20.Explain and apply the five guidelines for informative speaking overestimate what the audience know * Explain thoroughly * Listeners are only vaguely knowledgeable * Relate this subject directly to the audience * Gain attention from the audience Show that you are interested * Should be * Dont * you and your to relate it to their interests * Dont be too technical * May be too specialized for the audience * Avoid abstractions * Description: a statement that depicts a person, event, idea, with clarity with vividness * Use comparisons to create concrete and familiar terms Compare/Contrast * Personalize your ideas * To present ones ideas in human terms that can relate in some fashion to the experience of the audience * Be Creative * Constructing your informative speech creatively * Visual aids, props 21 .Three ways to Avoid abstractions * Use description Use comparison * Use contrast 22. Why is it important for speeches to be organized clearly and coherently? Speech organization is important and closely connected to critical thinking. * you gain practice in the general skill of establishing clear relationships among your ideas. * Using a clear specific method can boost confidence and improve your ability to deliver the message fluently * Higher comprehension from the audience * Higher opinion of the speaker * Coherence is key because speakers only have one chance to get the point across 23. Five strategic methods of organizing main points in speech * ChronologicalOrder * Follow a time pattern * Narrate series of events in the sequence * Spatial Order * Top to bottom, left to right, front to back * Causal Order * Shows a cause and effect relationship * Two main points * Problem-solution Order * Divided into two main points * First shows the existence and seriousness of a problem solution to the problem * Topical Order * Second shows the * Main points divide the topic into logical and consistent subtopics, which becomes a main point. 24. Guidelines for organizing main points * Keep main points separate * Each main point must be clearly independent of others * Try to use the same tatter of wording for main points * Consistent pattern of wording * Improves Increase Teaches * Parallelism * Balance the amount of time devoted to main points * Doesnt have to be exact, Just close 25. Four kinds of speech connectives * Transitions * Words or phrases that indicate that the speaker has Just completed one thought and is moving on to next one * Internal Previews * Let the audience know what is going to come up next. They are much more detailed then transitions * Internal Summaries * Remind listeners of what they have Just heard * Signposts * Brief statements that indicate exactly where you are in the speech First, second, third cause * Use questions 26. Four objectives of a speech introduction 1. Get the attention and interest of your audience 2. Reveal the topic of your speech a. Clearly state your topic 3. Establish your credibility and good will. B. Respect audiences value * EX) c. Qualified to speak on a given topic and of being perceived as qualified by your listeners d. Credibility: the audiences perception of whether a speaker is qualified to speak on a given topic e. Goodwill: the audiences perception of whether the speaker has the best interests of the audience in mind. 4. Preview the body of the speech f.Thesis statement, summarize what will come up in body paragraph 27. Seven methods that can be used to gain attention in an introduction * Relate topic to the * People pay attention to the things you say that affect them directly. * Relate the topic to your listeners by using words: you and your. * State the Importance to your topic * Why should the audience listen to your topic? How important is your speech? * Demonstrate the significance of the topic, so that the listeners will know why they should think so. * Startle the Audience * One of the interesting ways to arouse the audiences attention is to startle them tit an intriguing statement. BUT, when you make a strong opening simply to just shock people and then move on to different topic, the audience will be lost in the middle. * Arouse the Curiosity of the Audience * Everyone is curious about everything. * Build suspenseful mood to your introduction * Question the Audience * Ask a rhetorical question: A question that the audience answers mentally rather than out loud. * This will help the audience to draw in and be more focused on your speech. * BUT, you must make a small pause to give the audience a moment to think about the question. * Begin with a Quotation Another way to engage the audience is to start with a fascinating quotation. Quotation from literature, poem, song, or film or from a persons speech. * Tell a Story * Engage audience with a quick anecdote relevant to your topic. * People like hearing stories. * Keep it short 27. Major functions of a speech conclusion * To let the audience know you are ending the speech * To reinforce the audiences understanding of, or commitment to, the central idea. 28. Methods for fulfilling the functions oaf speech conclusion * Signal the end of the speech * Crescendo ending: a conclusion in which the speech builds to a zenith of power ND intensity * Dissolve ending: a conclusion that generates emotional appeal by fading step by step to a dramatic final statement. To reinforce the central idea * Summarize your speech quickly go over the main ideas in your manuscript * End with a quotation end with a quotation that captures the audiences interest * Make a dramatic statement use a powerfully closing line to end your speech Refer to the introduction go back and re-iterate the central idea that you made clear in the introduction 29. Preparation outline vs. . Speaking outline Preparation Outline I Speaking Outline I A detailed outline developed during the process of the speech preparation that includes:Title, specific purpose, central idea, introduction, main points, sub-points, connectives, conclusion, bibliography of a speech I A brief outline used to Jog a speakers memory during the presentation oaf speech. | 30.Guidelines for an effective preparation outline * State the specific purpose of your speech * Identify the central idea * Use a consistent pattern of symbolization and indentation framework * State main points and sub points in full sentences * Label transitions, internal summaries, and internal previews bibliography * MEAL / PAPA * Give your speech a title * Be brief * Attract the attention * Encapsulate the main thrust of your speech 31 . Three major advantages of using visual aids in a speech * Clear visual * Attach a * People will find a speakers message more interesting * Easier to understand * Retain it longer when it i s presented visually as well as verbally 32. Discuss the kinds of visual aids available for seen speeches * Objects and Models * Photographs and drawings * Graphs * Charts * Takes a large block of info and summarizes it * Video * The speaker * Use your body and demonstrated it firsthand Power point * Dont let it dominate your presentation * Dont read directly from the slides * Plan ahead on your slides 33.Guidelines for preparing visual aids * Prepare visual aids well in advance * Keep visual aids simple * Simple, clear, and to the point * Make sure visual aids are large enough * Use a limited amount of text * Keywords * Use fonts effectively * Choose clear ones * Dont use all caps * Use color effectively * Dont use a color that will confuse the audience * Uses image strategically * Dont add photos Just to fill space * Use concrete ones that help get your point across Guidelines for presenting visual aids * Display visual aids where listeners can see them * Avoid passing visual aids the audience * Display visual aids only while discussing them * Explain visual aids clearly and concisely * Visual aid cannot describe itself. So describe * Talk to your audience not your visual aid * Dont lose eye contact while showing your visual aid reaction to the item * Practice with your visual aids * Practice when you will show it * Check the room and equipment * Gage audiences * Check if the equipment will work correctly ex. Powering, video 34.Why good delivery is important to successful speaking It conveys what the speaker wants effectively. * Helps get across the ideas clearly, interestingly, and without distracting the audience * Audiences want formality with the attributes of a conversation: Directness, spontaneity, animation, vocal and facial expressiveness, and a lively sense of communication. *35. Four methods of delivering a speech * Reading from a manuscript * Must be delivered word for word * Make sure you sound vibrant and natural * Reciting from memory * Entirely from memorization * Speaking impromptu * Take notes and pay close attention to the other speakers, so that you will be dead * 1. State the poi nt you are answering * 2. State the point you wish to make * 3.Support your point with appropriate statistics or examples Summarize your point * Speaking extemporaneously * Carefully prepared, rehearse speech * Gives more precise control over thought and language spontaneity and directness than does speaking from memory situations * Offers greater * Adaptable to wide * Conversational quality: presenting a speech so it sounds spontaneous no matter how many times it has been rehearsed *36. Explain the eight aspects of voice usage that are crucial to public seeking * Volume Loudness of softness of the speakers voice * Adjust to the size of the room * Pitch * Highness or lowness of the speakers voice * Use inflections(varieties) in your a voice as you speak something important, or a question, or how something makes you feel. NO MONOTONE * Rate * Rate at which the speaker speaks * The best rate to use depends on many things occasion * Pause * A momentary break in the vocal delivery of a speech * Pause can signal the end * Give time to sink in * Vocal variety * Changes in a speakers rate pitch and volume * Gives the voice variety and expressiveness * Pronunciation Accepted standard of sound and rhythm for words * Practice maybe in front of your friends/family to correct any mispronunciation. * Articulation * The physical production of particular speech sounds * Poor articulation is usually due to laziness not pronunciation Dunn, haft, want * Dialect * Ana, Otto, * A variety f language distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabulary 37. Why nonverbal communication is important to the speaker * Posture facial expressions, gestures, eye contact all affect the way listeners respond too speaker * Kinesics the study of body motions as a systematic mode f communication * Has significant impact on the meaning communicated by a speaker * people trust their ears less than their eyes 38.Four most important aspects of nonverbal communication * Personal appearance * Dress according to the occasion, or any situation * Makes a good first impression * Movement * Lots of movements come from nervousness * When going to the podium appear calm, and confident * Dont lean on the podium * When closing, maintain eye contact for a few moments * Gestures * Motions of a speakers hands or arms during speech * Should appear natural and spontaneous * Help clarify and reinforce your ideas Gain more attention * Avoid too much gestures * Eye contact * Making direct visual contact with the eyes of another person * Audience looks at eyes to gauge a speakers truthfulness, intelligence, attitudes and feelings 39. Method for effectively practicing delivery * Go through your preparation outline aloud to check how what you have written is translated smoothly to your spoken discourse * Prepare your speaking outline * Practice the speech aloud several time using only the speaking outline. * Begin to polish and refine your delivery * Check for volume pitch rate pauses and vocal variety * Try it out on friends Intro Speech free essay sample This course is designed to acquaint students with the fundamentals of public speaking, organizational skills, social awareness, and critical thinking will be taught and used In class to Improve listening and speaking skills In all forms of communication. Through practice, interactive exercises, and class lectures, students will learn the importance of clear communication in all aspects of their professional and private lives. Group speech preparation, development of introductions and conclusions, as well as the ability to present a dynamic presentation will be the focus of this class.Required Text: Guide to Public Speaking by Lisa A. Ford-Brown My Gateway: Course material, class announcements and grades will be available for viewing at My Gateway. Course Requirements / Expectations: 1 . Attendance Is mandatory. Tardiness Is not acceptable. Tardiness Is counted as absence after the fourth occurrence. As responsible adults, you are expected to keep your commitment to be on time and attend class for the full time. We will write a custom essay sample on Intro Speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page THERE WILL BE A SIGN-IN SHEET FOR EACH CLASS. Attendance essential ;n an interactive, performance class. You are expected to have read each assigned chapter BEFORE the lass meeting. In order to succeed, you will need to remain current In ALL readings whether they are discussed In class that day or not, you need to complete speech assignments and attend ALL class sessions. Rather than a traditional lecture format, class time will be spent in collaborative learning activities, delivering and evaluating speeches and individualized diagnosis and repair of your public speaking needs. If a student misses more than 4 classes in a semester, he/she will lose 100 attendance points resulting in a maximum earned class grade in the B range. Bonus points are even for perfect attendance. 2.Each student is expected to be prepared to discuss the assigned text and to participate with class discussions and assignments. 3. One how to, one introductory, one informative, one persuasive, one ceremonial and one presidential with a team. 4. Each student will attend a speech given outside of class and write a critique of that speech. 5. Each student should be prepared for a quiz on assigned text materials and previous class discussions. 6. Intentionally disrupting class or a classmates speech will result in lowering the attendance grade. If disruptive behavior continues, the student will be expelled from class with a failing grade.Students are expected to act as adults in a business / learning environment. Disruptions include, but are not limited to: Coming to class late and being noisy when entering, doing homework during class, having a computer open in class, cell phone usage during class (this includes incoming calls TURN IT OFF), not showing respect for the instructor or fellow students. If you arrive late and a speech is in progress, wait outside the door until the speech is completed. 7. Outlines are required for our of the seven speeches. The how to speech does not need an outline, but a visual aid is recommended. The impromptu is given on a subject you will choose in class from a list provided by the professor. Your initial introductory speech will also have no outline. All others that earn 100 points or more will need an outline Handing in a printed Powering slide presentation will be counted as an outline. Bibliographies are needed with outlines. Outlines may be submitted prior to giving the speech via e-mail using Word formatting or must be handed in the day of the speech BEFORE the speech is given. Five points will be deducted if outlines are not turned in before the speech is given. . The four speeches that require outlines will also require a bibliography of three sources, documented PAP style. PAP will be discussed in a class lecture and it can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 9. All speeches will be delivered in a conversational style from outlines or note cards. No speeches will be read. 10. Persuasive, Informative, Ceremonial, and Presidential speeches will require visual aids. Visual aid preparation, usage and etiquette will be discussed in class. 11. Speech topics must be approved prior to presentation.The instructor reserves the right to refuse duplicate speech topics or those considered ethically or morally inappropriate. Speech topics cannot be changed without the instructors permission. 12. ALL WORK MUST BE ORIGINAL IN THOUGHT, CONTENT, AND DELIVERY. Academic honesty is fundamental to the mission of the university and your reputation. Plagiarism is cheating and will not be tolerated. Students must inform the audience at all times when a source is being used as a quote, paraphrase, or analysis. For SIMMS policy on academic honesty, see the student handbook. 3.Sign up sheets will be available one to two weeks before speeches are due. If a student is NOT READY to give a speech at his/her assigned time, 5 points will be deducted from the score for EACH TIME the student is NOT PREPARED. Obviously, this will greatly affect the overall grade for the speech. SPEECH TYPES: You will be required to give seven speeches in this course. Introductory/Life Change Speech: Give basic information about yourself as an uniqueness of who youve become. (4-6 minutes) Example: Something about culture, family, special experiences, tragedies or passions a real statement about you. How to Speech: Give a speech to tell the class how to do something. This speech is presented in 2nd person. This means the audience will be expected to be able to do whatever is being presented to them. Visual aids are strongly recommended for this speech. (4-6 minutes. ) Impromptu Speech: In the real world, you may be an expert in some field. At any time, you may be called upon by a boss, client, friend, etc. , to talk about your knowledge of this subject. You will be required to deliver this kind of speech during class. A list of topics will be presented the day of the speech.You are to find a topic n which you would be considered an expert and then present this topic. (4-6 minutes) Informative Speech: You are to give a speech on new information. The purpose is to enhance the audiences knowledge about the subject and give YOU a chance to research something new. Gaining and holding the audiences attention is essential. Visual aids MUST be used. (4-6 minutes) Persuasive Speech: This speech should be one that shows opposing points of view, presents information to persuade an audience to change their way of thinking, think about something new or to reinforce an already agreed upon solution.More than one point of view MUST be presented. Visual aid is required. (4-6 minutes) Special Occasion, Commemorative, or Ceremonial Speech: This speech should be one of tribute, inspiration or celebration. The purpose is to increase the audiences good will and respect toward your subject. It can praise an event, a person, a social group, an institution or profession. Visual aids MUST be used. (4-6 minutes) Presidential / Group: This speech is a group project. The instructor assigns groups early in the semester. This speech will present a topic of presidential proportions.Presentation styles will be discussed in class but each group member MUST be a presenter. Visual aids MUST be used. Minutes) Throughout the semester, each group will have opportunities to meet in class when time is available. During this time, the group will also have the opportunity to narrow down its topic for the Group Presentation. It should be a topic that can easily fit into the process defined in the Reflective Thinking Method. 1. Define the problem 2. Analyze the problem (research) 3. Establish criteria for solving the problem (more research based on previous research) 4.Generate potential solutions (pros and con viewpoints) 5. Select the best solution as determined by the group based on the research and present to the class current events issue. This project requires research by each group member at meetings outside of class. The group must do original research of its own, not Just information from known sources. Research may be in the form of a viable survey (to be discussed in class), face-to-face interviews or other traditional methods. This research with all other research MUST be documented in your bibliography.All team members receive the same grade for this project; however, each group ember has the opportunity to evaluate his/her team members after the presentation, which could affect the grade of someone who did not participate in the project. A Team Charter with consequences of nonparticipating will be drawn up and agreed upon by all team members as soon as teams are formed so everyone knows the results of his/her actions. The main speech text and outline with sources are to be presented to the instructor BEFORE the presentation with the names of all team members.You may use a professional speaking engagement, a eulogy or other church sermon, etc. The written assignment should be 2. To 4 pages, double-spaced and written clearly and concisely. Use standard 1 margins and standard fonts such as Times or Arial 12 apt. Give full details of who gave the speech, when and where the speech took place. Guest speakers in other classes are acceptable but not other instructors lectures. Speeches given in this class are NOT acceptable for critique, nor are the speeches shown in class. The due date for this assignment is Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

What would you consider the most decisive or influential forces to bring down apartheid in South Africa Essays

What would you consider the most decisive or influential forces to bring down apartheid in South Africa Essays What would you consider the most decisive or influential forces to bring down apartheid in South Africa Essay What would you consider the most decisive or influential forces to bring down apartheid in South Africa Essay Essay Topic: History The dark days of Apartheid finally came to an end in 1990 when the â€Å"Father† of South Africa, Nelson Mandela was released from prison. In many ways it can be argued that the abolishment of apartheid is attributed to Mandela and in part this is true. However, the factors which led to the downfall of the repressive Apartheid regime are not as simple as assigning it to one sole determinant, but a combination and culmination of varying factors. The main influential forces herein discussed can be classed into 3 categories. Firstly, internal pressure from the black protest and its political parties; secondly, the international isolation which enforced economic sanctions and sporting boycotts; and finally, the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union as the cold war relaxed (US Department of State, 2001). As such this essay will briefly outline these main influences which brought down Apartheid and assess which played the most profound part in its demise. The oppressive actions of the government inflicted on the black community were well known before the 1960’s. However, the most prolific years in the anti-apartheid movements occurred after this time in the form of internal resistance from small and isolated groups (Louw, 2004). These groups were unable to join forces due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of the widespread nature of the regimes actions and the fading belief in their freedom, which thus dulled the effect of anti-apartheid movements. The bans issued upon the ANC and other large scale political parties along with their leaders further reinforced the isolation of groups and lack of coordinated â€Å"struggle† (Callinicos, 1994). In an effort to overcome the limitations of this isolated resistance and boost black resistance actions, black consciousness became one of the defining movements. Spearheaded by Steve Biko, this grassroots effort was forged from the political vacuum left from the bans imposed on the large political groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) and Pan African Congress (PAC) (Clark Worger, 2004). Biko intended for this political conscious movement to help black citizens celebrate their â€Å"blackness† and take pride in their blackness as it was an important phase in their own personal liberation (Clark Worger, 2004). In an ideological manner, the movement aimed to help the black community move away from their perception of themselves as second class citizens. Other prominent leaders of the time included Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo. Walter Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress. He was an active member of the ANC and travelled around the world gaining support for the apartheid struggle. Oliver Tambo was also a member of the ANC and worked alongside Sisulu trying to gain political power against apartheid as well as organising protests and riots to convince the South African Government to change (Louw, 2004). These three men as well as many other activists inspired the black communities to take a stand against the biased laws. They inspired and motivated protests such as the Soweto riots, the Vaal Triangle uprising, the Sharpeville Massacre and many other demonstrations (Callinicos, 1994). In undertaking these demonstrations, they fuelled Oliver Tambo’s notion of making Apartheid ungovernable. With so many prolific leaders and large-scale anti-apartheid political groups in action within the country, it begs the question as to why the apartheid regime did not collapse at least a decade earlier than it did. One of the reasons is attributed to the fact that there was a lack of centralised and combined ideology and action despite the rise of black violence and belief in their cause. Disagreements existed between the ANC and their ally the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) (Callinicos, 1994). The UDF came into existence in 1983 and was an important political party as it was multi-racial (Louw, 2004). Its aims were to unite all non-white resistance groups, and have a stable future under the Freedom Charter it shared with the ANC. Its leaders were people like Archbishop Tutu, Albertina Sisulu, and Winnie Mandela. The IFP on the other hand, run by Mangosuthu Buthelezi advocated the use of nonviolence (Callinicos, 1994) and as such were constantly at odds with the ANC which opened Umkhonto we Sizwe, the specific armed forces aspect of the party (South Africa History Online, 1991). The South African police and other supporters of apartheid relished this internal fighting of the resistance groups as it made the black community appear as if they were not ready to rule the country. Supporters of apartheid stated that the blacks were too violent and not willing to accept other peoples views, which is needed if everyone is to live freely in a democratic society. Despite the disagreements which allowed apartheid to continue, the combined effort of large scale demonstrations undertaken by these anti-apartheid groups would serve as a catalyst for international support for the black cause and condemnation against the South African government The decline in power of the Soviet Union as a result of the decay of the Cold War played an integral part in dismantling the apartheid regime. The lack of international exposure and outcry regarding apartheid was largely based upon the need of the western world, namely the U. S for capitalistic gain. As such the relationship between the Cold War and the downfall of Apartheid was the fact that apartheid was only allowed to continue due to the Cold War (US Department of State, 2001). America viewed South Africa as the stronghold of economic wealth and strength within Africa and as such did not want to jeopardize its control over the trade and shipping routes, with it falling under Soviet communist rule. Thus successful international involvement and support in dismantling apartheid was not achieved until the decline of the Soviet Union. The decline of Soviet power also coincided and likely affected the rapid trend of other African nations move toward a democratic and self-determining society. The Western countries no longer feared the influence of Communism on developing African governments and therefore a period of decolonisation within Africa occurred. The fact that countries surrounding South Africa were becoming independent was a poignant factor as it helped make the South African government more vulnerable. By 1980, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Malawi and Zambia had all become independent and were now hostile towards South Africa and its oppressive measures against the black community (Clark Worger, 2004). This breakdown in alliance between South Africa and its neighbouring countries meant that South Africa was no longer able to dictate and retain its economic strangle hold on the other nations. In addition the goods such as gold, diamonds and other minerals, which South Africa supplied to the rest of the world were instead produced by the neighbouring independent nations (Clark Worger, 2004). This meant that the international countries were still able to receive the majority of the products which they usually would have received while still able to enact economic sanctions upon the apartheid regime. International intervention was received at the earliest known date in 1962 by the United Nations which invoked trading boycotts with the intent of trying to get the government to reverse the policy of Apartheid. This was the first step that the international countries took to try and make an end of Apartheid. However trading boycotts proved to be ineffective with the country’s wealth of diamond and gold. The boycotts initiated by the UN in 1962 were in response to the massacre in Sharpeville which occurred in 1960 (BBC World Service, 2014). The importance of this event within the context of the demise of apartheid isn’t the death and injured toll but rather the marking of a turning point in the South African history. The event canon balled the apartheid regime onto centre stage on an international level and became the beginning of the country’s increasing isolation from the international community. South Africa was also facing anti-apartheid governments in other nations. The Swedish government, who were strongly opposed to apartheid, supported and donated money to groups within South Africa against apartheid. The British Anti-Apartheid Movement however, instead of donating money, demonstrated their disapproval through sanctions on the sporting competitions between Britain and South Africa (Keech, Houlihan, 1999). They banned South Africa from the 1964 Olympics and stopped cricket and rugby matches between the nations. Investment was another potent casualty suffered as a result of the economic sanction. Many western businesses notably Coca-Cola, began to pull out from the South African markets as they became hesitant on the amount of their profits. Foreign banks such as the Barclays Bank based in South Africa declined to extend loans and began to pull out of the country, heavily affecting the economy (Hirsch, 1989). The trade embargoes also greatly affected the economy as South Africa was not getting any of the vital supplies which they needed and the excess products which they made were going to waste as their primary consumers (western countries) refused to buy these products. Therefore, South African companies had no money with which to pay their workers causing an increase of black unemployment and poverty and a decrease in white incomes as well as a raise in their taxes. Consequently, protests began in South Africa. The financial crisis in 1985 was a direct cause of these imposed sanctions (Hirsch, 1989). The crisis initiated the drop of the Rand and sent the government to declare a state of emergency (Hirsch, 1989). Such an increase in international condemnation and internal demonstrations created an anarchic society thereby forcing the population to believe that it was time for change in South Africa. As evidenced above, the importance of international support and intervention cannot be understated. The boycotts and economic sanctions imposed against the apartheid regime can be seen to be more of an influential force that finally triggered wholesale changes to occur within the country. Yet the most decisive factor behind the fall of apartheid was the opposition within the country from black movements. Their protest and other demonstrations, which at times ended with hundreds dead and thousands more injured, drastically eroded the regime and created doubts within the white faction about their system. Intrinsically the efforts by anti-apartheid groups within the country was a double-edged sword that forced the western world to take notice and intervene.